« | Psalm 7 | » |
1 Shiggaion of David; a song which he made to the Lord, about the words of Cush the Benjamite. O Lord my God, I put my faith in you; take me out of the hands of him who is cruel to me, and make me free;
2 So that he may not come rushing on my soul like a lion, wounding it, while there is no one to be my saviour.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this; if my hands have done any wrong;
4 If I have given back evil to him who did evil to me, or have taken anything from him who was against me without cause;
5 Let my hater go after my soul and take it; let my life be crushed to the earth, and my honour into the dust. (Selah.)
6 Come up, Lord, in your wrath; be lifted up against my haters; be awake, my God, give orders for the judging.
7 The meeting of the nations will be round you; take your seat, then, over them, on high.
8 The Lord will be judge of the peoples; give a decision for me, O Lord, because of my righteousness, and let my virtue have its reward.
9 O let the evil of the evil-doer come to an end, but give strength to the upright: for men's minds and hearts are tested by the God of righteousness.
10 God, who is the saviour of the upright in heart, is my breastplate.
11 God is the judge of the upright, and is angry with the evil-doers every day.
12 If a man is not turned from his evil, he will make his sword sharp; his bow is bent and ready.
13 He has made ready for him the instruments of death; he makes his arrows flames of fire.
14 That man is a worker of evil; the seed of wrongdoing has given birth to deceit.
15 He has made a hole deep in the earth, and is falling into the hole which he has made
16 His wrongdoing will come back to him, and his violent behaviour will come down on his head.
17 I will give praise to the Lord for his righteousness; I will make a song to the name of the Lord Most High.
The Bible in Basic English (BBE)
The Bible in Basic English (BBE) is a translation of the Bible that aims to make the scriptures accessible to people with limited English proficiency. Completed in 1941 by Professor Samuel Henry Hooke and a team of scholars, the BBE utilizes a simplified vocabulary of approximately 1,000 basic English words, along with additional words necessary to maintain the integrity of the biblical text. This approach ensures that the translation is easily understandable while still conveying the core messages and teachings of the Bible.
One of the defining features of the BBE is its commitment to simplicity and clarity. By using a restricted vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures, the BBE makes it easier for readers to grasp the fundamental ideas of the scriptures without being hindered by complex language. This makes the BBE particularly valuable for non-native English speakers, children, and individuals with limited literacy skills. The translation aims to break down language barriers, allowing a broader audience to engage with Bible teachings.
Despite its simplified language, the BBE strives to remain faithful to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. The translators worked carefully to ensure that the essential meanings and theological concepts were preserved, even as they adapted the language to be more accessible. This balance of simplicity and fidelity to the original texts helps maintain the Bible’ s depth and spiritual richness while making it more approachable. The BBE’ s emphasis on clarity without sacrificing essential meaning has made it a useful tool for teaching and evangelism.
However, the BBE has faced some criticism, particularly from scholars and theologians who argue that the simplification process may lead to the loss of some nuances and deeper meanings present in the original languages. Some feel that the restricted vocabulary can oversimplify complex theological concepts, potentially limiting the reader’ s understanding of the full depth of the scriptures. Despite these criticisms, the Bible in Basic English remains a valuable resource for those seeking an easily understandable version of the Bible, providing a bridge for many to access the timeless messages contained within the holy scriptures.